Rating of
4/4
Tarantino on thin ice.
memento_mori - wrote on 08/22/13
I think I've discussed Inglourious Basterds around a thousand times.
This is a very peculiar movie from my perspective, because although it is at times fascinating and Tarantino gold, it also has its weak moments.
Quentin Tarantino is one of my favorite directors. And the way I see his style, he always makes one of two movies. One: An extremely smart, twisted, dialogue-filled and cool movie like Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, or Two: he makes an extremely disgusting movie and gets lost in his little universe, like at the end of Django Unchained or in Kill Bill: Volume One.
Inglourious Basterds is honestly a good balance of those two signature Tarantino styles. I personally adore the tension-filled basement bar scene and the introduction, but I also have some severe issues.
For instance, Hans Landa. Now, I have nothing against Christoph Waltz. I think he is a remarkable actor and deserved his Oscar. I was just not okay with the way him and Nazis in general were portrayed in this film as smooth, charismatic and satirical movie characters.
You probably want to know what I thought of the ending. I thought it was a pretty big move to go ahead and change history like that, but for a final act and climax Tarantino did an astounding job. Plus, I liked all the scenes in the little cinema overall.
What I also found very inventive and cool of Tarantino, was making the two main languages French and German. It felt so authentic, and the dialogue was also fresh to hear in German.
Speaking of dialogue, that's another thing I found intriguing. It might be the best dialogue Tarantino has ever written.
He is known for very witty, interesting dialogue, but intended for smalltime characters and people couldn't take seriously, like Vincent Vega or Mr. Blonde.
In this film, every line coming from Waltz or Fassbender is mature. Their acting capabilities allow them so much understanding of the line delivery and how to make it sound convincing. It is very manipulative and mysterious.
So, mixed script, mixed characters, mixed style. What to think?
Inglourious Basterds is a film I don't know how to feel about. While it has its definite moments of genius and Tarantino-esque, it feels very far away from me as a viewer and in part insults the whole topic in general. I could see the whole vision in mind, but the outcome felt a little dangerous to me.
